As I read the quest for this floor, I tried to retrace my steps back to the grassy hill I had just left. To my surprise, a barrier now stood in my way, unyielding and impenetrable, preventing my return.
Resigned to the fact that I couldn't return, I turned toward the vast desert before me, unsure how I'd ever find anything in such an endless expanse. Like this, I began my search.
After hours of scouring the endless desert for any sign of civilization, I reached my breaking point. My skin was scorched by the unrelenting sun, burns searing across my arms and neck, while my throat felt like sandpaper from the dry, suffocating air. I was barely able to keep my eyes open against the glaring light when, through the haze, I finally saw it—a shape, distant but unmistakable, rising from the horizon.
Gaining a semblance of hope within my heart, I dashed forward with what little strength I had left. The further I advanced, the harder it got until my legs finally gave out from the crushing exhaustion; not giving up, I placed my hands in the blistering hot sand. The searing heat immediately began to cause burns all over my body but a sudden sense of unwillingness overcame me as I started to drag myself towards the distant shape on the horizon. Slowly, as I got closer and closer, the shape started becoming clearer and clearer until it finally came into view.
Looking at what I had assumed would be a city a sense of despair formed in my chest before starting to overwhelm me. What I saw was not a city. It wasn't even a building. No, it was a lone tree surrounded by a shallow body of water.
Crawling my way towards the first thing I'd seen in hours I couldn't help but lack my parched lips as I gazed intently at the water surrounding the tree. Driven by an immense thirst, I managed to reach the water's edge and directly plunged my head into the refreshing water. Instantly feeling a sense of relief, I greedily took gulps of water until I could drink no more. Only then did I look towards the lone tree.
Staring at the tree, I slowly picked myself up, stumbling to my feet before wading through the knee-high water. My legs were heavy, but I pushed forward until I finally reached the tree. Reaching out, I touched its bark, which bore a strange, intricate pattern. Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath me, and my hand fused with the tree, refusing to let me go. I struggled with all my strength, trying to break free, but no matter what I did, I was unsuccessful. Eventually, I came to accept my fate, trapped and powerless.
Closing my eyes, I pleaded with all my heart, begging anyone who might be listening to spare my life. The words spilled out, desperate and raw, as the minutes stretched on. Then, at last, the tremors ceased. I opened my eyes, a surge of surprise flooding through me as I realized I was still alive. My gaze shifted to the scene before me, and I couldn't help but be awestruck by what I saw.
What lay before me could only be described by one word: magnificent. That was all I could think of as I stared at the city before me. The buildings, crafted from wood, varied in height—some no more than a single floor, while others soared into the hundreds. At first, the structures appeared mismatched, but as my gaze swept across them, I saw how they blended into something perfectly harmonious. The sight was made even more breathtaking by the waterfalls in the distance, their cascading streams flowing through the city. But the most astounding detail of all was the fact that this entire city seemed to be nestled within a vast underground cave.
With a renewed sense of energy, I began walking forward, my eyes wide with awe as I passed the magnificent buildings. I moved on, almost mindlessly, lost in the wonder of it all, not knowing how much time had passed. Eventually, I stumbled upon a fountain in the heart of the city, and the sight snapped me out of my trance.
Walking forward, I reached the edge of the marble fountain, its waters constantly forming intricate, shifting patterns. As I studied them, the image of the tree from earlier flashed through my mind. Without thinking, I instinctively reached out to touch the water. To my surprise, nothing happened—my hand simply became wet.
It was then that a strained voice broke the silence. "You're not from around here, are you?"
I turned to see an old man leaning on a cane, his eyes studying me with quiet curiosity.
"Is it that easy to tell?" I asked, my gaze drifting back to the mesmerizing fountain.
"Well, for some reason, every newcomer ends up at this fountain with that same amazed look," the old man said, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Is that so?" was all I could manage to say, my voice distant as my attention became increasingly consumed by the fountain in front of me. Slowly, everything else faded from my mind—the old man, the city, even my own existence. The only thing that mattered, the only thing that existed, was the fountain.
As I stared at the fountain, its flowing patterns seemed to pull me in, drawing me closer with an irresistible force. Slowly, the world around me began to blur, and I felt a strange sensation—almost as if the fountain and I were no longer separate. My body felt weightless, as if it were dissolving, becoming fluid, merging with the water. I could feel the cool liquid flowing through my veins, joining the intricate, ever-shifting patterns that danced on the surface of the fountain.
I was no longer just a bystander, no longer simply watching. I had become part of it, a living thread woven into the ever-changing tapestry of water. The boundaries between myself and the fountain dissolved completely, and for the first time, I felt a profound, peaceful oneness with the rhythm of the world around me.
A strange, unsettling thought flickered through my mind—something's not right. But before I could grasp it fully, a wave of forgetfulness began to wash over me, slowly creeping in, dulling my senses. It was as if the very essence of the fountain was erasing my thoughts, pulling me deeper into its grasp. I tried to fight it, desperately clawing at the fragments of my awareness. No. Something isn't right. The phrase echoed in my mind like a mantra, my only lifeline against the encroaching fog. I clung to it, repeating it over and over, trying to resist the pull, but it felt like I was sinking into a dream where nothing made sense anymore.